System and method for providing a plurality of multi-media services using a number of media servers to form a preliminary interactive communication relationship with a calling communication device

ABSTRACT

A system and method for processing a plurality of requests for multi-media services received at a call control element (CCE) defined on the system from a calling communication device. The system includes a Network Routing Element, a Service Broker (SB), at least a primary media severs (MS) and at least a secondary MS, a plurality of application servers (ASs) and a plurality of border elements, all of which are coupled to the CCE. The SB is adapted to receive a plurality of requests including parameters for requesting multi-media services, via the CCE, and to selectively redirect the requests to one or more ASs for providing feature processing for the requests. The ASs can instruct either the primary MS or secondary MS, via the CCE, to form a preliminary interactive communication path with the calling communication device for collecting caller-entered data, which can be validated prior to providing the feature processing.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/676,443, filed Feb. 19, 2007 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,664,102, which is currently allowed and is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/337,203 filed Jan. 6, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,180,912, where all of the above cited applications are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services and, more specifically, to a system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services by selectively directing the requests to at least one media server for forming a preliminary multi-media communication path between the media server and a calling communication device to permit the media server to play announcements to and collect caller-entered data from the calling communication device.

BACKGROUND

Application service providers operating on a Local Area Network (LAN), such as AT&T, can receive a number of requests from various users of Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) enabled communication devices operating on a Wide Area Network (WAN) for any one or more of a plurality of multi-media service offerings. These requests may be directed to a predetermined application server of a plurality of application servers associated with the application service provider, which is adapted to provide feature processing for the requested multi-media service.

As application service providers continue to add multi-media service offerings and corresponding application servers for providing feature processing for each of the requested multi-media services, there is an increasing need to support preliminary multi-media communications with customers operating at the various SIP-enabled communication devices to collect caller-entered data and to process the caller-entered data to determine if the customer is authorized to receive the requested multi-media service.

Therefore, an unsolved need remains for a multi-media communication service provider system that is adapted to provide a direct multi-media interface with SIP-enabled communication devices for supporting preliminary multi-media communications between the multi-media communication service provider system and the number of SIP-enabled communication devices operating on the WAN.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with principles of the present invention, a system and method for processing a plurality of requests for a plurality of multi-media services received at a multi-media services provider system is set forth. The system processes the multi-media service requests received at the multi-media services provider system to form a multi-media communication path between at least a first communication device and at least a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices.

In one aspect, the multi-media services provider system includes a call control element adapted to receive at least a first request message for at least one multi-media service from the first communication device. The call control element processes the first request message to generate a second request message for at least one multi-media service including predetermined attributes of the first request message. A service broker coupled to the call control element is adapted to receive and process the second request message to generate a first redirect message. The call control element receives and processes the first redirect message to generate a third request message including predetermined attributes of the first redirect message. At least one application server coupled to the call control element is adapted to receive and process the third request message to generate a second redirect message.

The second redirect message includes at least a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server, which is coupled to the call control element and to the application server. The second redirect message further includes a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server, which is also coupled to the call control element and to the application server. In addition, the second redirect message includes a transaction identifier field that triggers the application server to access a corresponding customer account and bypass predetermined account logic and jump to predetermined data validation logic. The second redirect message may also include address-related information associated with predetermined audio scripts.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider system to form a multi-media communication path between at least a first communication device and at least a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices is set forth. The method includes receiving at least a first request message for at least one multi-media service at a call control element located on the multi-media services provider system from the first communication device. The first request message is processed at the call control element located on the multi-media services provider system to generate a second request message for the at least one multi-media service, which includes predetermined attributes of the first request message. The second request message is received and processed at a service broker located on the multi-media services provider system for generating a first redirect message, which includes predetermined attributes of the second request message. The first redirect message is received and processed at the call control element located on the multi-media services provider system for generating a third request message including predetermined attributes of the first redirect message.

The third request message is received and processed at one or more application servers located on the multi-media services provider system for generating a second redirect message. The second redirect message includes at least a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server located on the multi-media services provider system. The second redirect message further includes a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server located on the multi-media services provider system.

The method further includes receiving and processing the second redirect message at the call control element to generate a fourth request message, which in an exemplary embodiment includes a Content-Type header having a multipart/mixed media type. The fourth request message further includes a first message body portion including session description protocol associated with the first request message and a second message body portion including service-related parameters to establish an interactive session with a predetermined caller.

The method further includes querying the primary media server for determining whether the primary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message. The fourth request message is received at the primary media server if it is determined that the primary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message. The fourth request message is processed at the primary media server to form an interactive communication path between the primary media server and the first communication device.

After forming the interactive communication path between the primary media server and the first communication device, the method includes receiving user-entered data at the primary media server and communicating the user-entered data to at least one application server located on the multi-media services provider system for validation. If the user-entered data is determined to be valid, the method further includes generating a fifth request message at the application server including address resolution instructions. If the user-entered data is determined to be invalid, the method further includes playing a termination announcement to the first communication device.

If the user-entered data is determined to be valid, as described above, the method further includes receiving and processing the fifth request message at the call control element for generating a sixth request message that includes predetermined routing information. The sixth request message is received and processed at the network routing element for generating a third redirect message. The third redirect message is received and processed at the call control element for generating a seventh request message.

The seventh request message is received and processed at the second communication device, whereby the second communication device initiates a predetermined protocol for forming a multi-media communication path between the first communication device and the second communication device.

In another aspect, if the primary media server includes insufficient resources for processing the fourth request message, the method includes querying the secondary media server for determining whether the secondary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message. If it is determined that the secondary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message, the method includes receiving and processing the fourth request message at the secondary media server to form an interactive communication path between the secondary media server and the first communication device.

In another aspect, a method of processing multi-media service requests received at a multi-media services provider system is set forth to form a multi-media communication path between at least a first communication device and at least a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices. The method further includes receiving at least one request message for at least one multi-media service at an application server of a plurality of application servers located on the multi-media services provider system. The at least one request message is processed at the application server for generating a redirect message. The second redirect message includes at least a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server located on the multi-media services provider system. In addition, the second redirect message includes at least a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server located on the multi-media services provider system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing and other objects of this invention, the various features thereof, as well as the invention itself, can be more fully understood from the following description, when read together with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exemplary high-level schematic block diagram of a system for providing multi-media communications between a plurality of communication devices according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an expanded schematic block diagram of the system shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a high level flow chart illustrating process steps executable on the system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a communication network 10 for providing multi-media communications between at least first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices of a plurality of communication devices, in accordance with the present invention. The communication network 10 includes a multi-media provider system 10 a, which is operative to provide a plurality of multi-media services to the first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices, via respective first 34 a and second 34 b SIP-enabled IP-Private Branch Exchanges (hereinafter referred to as “PBXs”). It should be understood that the multi-media services provider system 10 a is additionally operative to provide a plurality of multi-media services to a plurality of other communication devices not specifically shown herein.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the exemplary embodiment, the multi-media services provider system 10 a includes a centrally located Call Control Element 24 (CCE), a plurality of Media Servers (MSs) 30 a and 30 b, a plurality of Application Servers (ASs) 32 a, 32 b, 32 c (collectively referred to hereinafter as ASs 32 a-32 b) at least one Network Routing Engine (NRE) 33, at least one Service Broker (SB) 36 and a plurality of Border Elements (BEs) 26 a, 26 b, 26 c, 26 d (collectively referred to hereinafter as BEs 26 a-26 d). The CCE 24 is coupled to the plurality of ASs 32 a-32 c, to the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d and to the plurality of MSs 30 a and 30 b. The CCE is further coupled to the NRE 33 and to the SB 36.

Although the first MS 30 a is shown as being coupled to the first AS 32 a, it should be understood that the first MS 30 a can be coupled to the second AS 32 b and/or to the third 32 c AS, as well as to a number of other application servers not specifically shown herein. Similarly, although the second MS 30 b is shown as being coupled to the second AS 32 b, it should be understood that the second MS 30 b can be coupled to the first AS 32 a and/or to the third 32 c AS, as well as to a number of other application servers not specifically shown herein. In an exemplary embodiment, the first MS 32 a can be defined as a “primary MS 32 a” for which interactions with calling communications devices 22 a or 22 b can be first attempted. Further, the second MS 32 b can be defined as an “alternate or secondary MS 32 b” for which interactions with calling communications devices 22 a or 22 b can be alternately attempted in the event that the primary MS 32 a is busy or does not have sufficient resources to perform the caller interaction.

In the exemplary embodiment, the fourth BE 26 d is coupled to the first PBX 34 a and the second BE 26 b is coupled to the second PBX 34 b. Further, the third BE 26 c is coupled to PBX 34 c, via an access gateway 31, and is adapted for operation using the H.323 protocol. It should be understood that the BEs 26 a-26 d can be coupled to a plurality of other PBXs (not shown), which are included in other embodiments not specifically shown herein.

In the exemplary embodiment, the first PBX 34 a is coupled to the first communication device 22 a. Further, the second PBX 34 b is similarly coupled to the second communication device 22 b.

The CCE 24, for example, can be provided by Lucent Corporation of Murray Hill, N.J. The CCE 24 may be defined as a back-to-back user agent (B2BUA), which operates to receive a plurality of INVITE messages from any one of the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d and upon receipt of the plurality of INVITE messages from the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d, the CCE 24 can initiate an equal plurality of INVITE messages to the SB 36. The CCE 24 is further adapted to receive a plurality of Redirect messages from the SB 36 in response to the plurality of INVITE messages sent to the SB 36 from the CCE 24. When the CCE 24 receives a Redirect message back from the SB 36 in response to an INVITE message and depending on instructions provided by the SB 36 in the Redirect message, the CCE 24 can either send an INVITE message to one or more of the plurality of ASs 32 a-32 c for feature processing for the call or the CCE 24 can send an INVITE message to the NRE 33 (i.e. feature processing is not required for the call) to bypass the plurality of as 32 a-32 c and set up the call. The CCE 24 is further adapted to maintain the call state between the first 22 a and the second 22 b communication devices and to generate a call detail record (CDR) based on instructions received from any one or more of the plurality of as 32 a-32 c.

The CCE 24 is also adapted to use “Third Party Call Control,” which is described in the reference, “Third Party Call Control in SIP” by Rosenberg, Peterson, Schulzrinne, Camarillo, RFC-Draft, Internet Engineering Task Force, Mar. 2, 2001,” which is herein incorporated by reference. The Third Party Call Control feature of the CCE 24, permits the CCE 24 to create a call in which communication is actually between other parties. For example, an operator can use Third Party Call Control to create a call that connects two participants together or similarly, the CCE 24 use Third Party Call Control to connect the primary MS 30 a and the first communication device 22 a. Generally, Third Party Call control allows the CCE to connect the various end callers without having the media stream pass through the CCE 24 and yet, the CCE 24 can still maintain call state information.

In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d can be provided by Lucent Corporation of Murray Hill, N.J. In one embodiment, the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d are adapted to use SIP as the signaling protocol for interfacing with the CCE 24. Further first BE 26 a is adapted to interface to a circuit network (not shown) using an ISDN user port included thereon. The second BEs 26 b and the fourth 26 d are adapted to use SIP as the signaling protocol for interfacing with the first 34 a and second 34 b PBXs. The third BE 26 c is adapted to use H.323 as the signaling protocol for interfacing with the PBX 34 c, via the Access Gateway (AGW) 31. In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of BEs 26 a-26 d may be thought of as a SIP B2BUA because each of the BEs 26 a-26 d generates SIP messages as well as receives requests from SIP endpoints, such as the SIP-enabled first 34 a and second 34 b PBXs, and either processes the requests itself or forwards the requests to the CCE 24 for processing.

In the exemplary embodiment, the SB 36 can also be provided by Lucent Corporation of Murray Hill, N.J. In one embodiment, the SB 36 acts as the SIP Redirect Server. The SB 36 operates to identify a particular service request, which is included in the INVITE message received at the SB 36 from the CCE 24. The SB further operates to instruct the CCE 24, via a Redirect message, to redirect the call to one or more of the plurality of as 32 a-32 c for service processing. In an embodiment, the SB 36 can identify a particular service requested by the call based on ANI or DN information included in the INVITE message received at the SB 36 from the CCE 24. In addition, the SB 36 may perform call screening based on the Charge Party Station Type (a.k.a. OLI-Originating Line Information) received in the INVITE message at the SB 36.

After the SB 36 determines which of the first AS 32 a, second AS 32 b or third AS 32 c as the primary and secondary processors for processing a particular call request, the SB 36 generates a SIP Redirect “300 Multiple Choice” message and populates the IP address/Port number combinations of the (primary/secondary) AS 32 a, 32 b or 32 c in the Contact headers of the “300 Multiple Choice” message, and sends it to the CCE 24. This approach permits the CCE 24 to query the secondary AS 32 a, 32 b or 32 c in the event that the primary AS 32 a, 32 b or 32 c is overloaded or not available to process the call request. If the SB 36 does not find a ANI or Dialed number match in the INVITE message received from the CCE 24, but has a carrier other than the multi-media service provider system 10 a (e.g. AT&T), the SB 36 may send another SIP Redirect “300 Multiple Choice” to the CCE 24 with the IP address of the NRE 33 indicating that the call request does not require AS 32 a-32 c processing, which effectively bypasses any service processing at the plurality of ASs 32 a-32 c.

In the exemplary embodiment, the plurality of as 32 a-32 c can each include a conventional computer server, such as an “NT-Server,” which can be provided by Microsoft of Richmond, Wash. or a “Unix Solaris Server,” which can be provided by Sun Micro Systems of Palo Alto, Calif. The as 32 a-32 c can be programmed with conventional Web-page interface software such as: “Visual Basic,” “Java,” “JavaScript,” “HTML/DHTML,” “C++,” “J+,” “Perl,” or “Perlscript,” and “ASP.” The as 32 a-32 c can each further be programmed with an operating system, Web server software and Web Application software, such as an e-commerce application and computer network interface software.

In addition, the as 32 a-32 c contain the intelligence needed for offering multimedia services such as Toll-Free Calling or 800-Service, Virtual Private Networks, and various multimedia features like email, “Click-To-Dial”. The intelligence may be comprised of customer logic and data, as well as, common logic and data that are used by all customers. It is necessary for the CCE 24 to access the logic and data in the as 32 a-32 c in order to provide the multi-media services or features. The receipt of an HTTP form Post message at any one of the as 32 a-32 c, which includes a transaction ID, will trigger any one of the as 32 a-32 c to access the corresponding customer account and bypass the initial steps of the account logic and jump to the appropriate data validation logic.

The as 32 a-32 c can each be further respectively coupled to databases 31 a-31 c, which each contain a service intelligence layer adapted for providing the plurality of multi-media services described above. The intelligence layer may include customer logic and data, as well as common logic and data that is used by communication devices 22 a, 22 b, as well as a plurality of other communication devices not specifically shown in FIG. 2.

The NRE 33 also operates as a SIP Redirect Server. The NRE 33 processes INVITE messages received from the CCE 24; performs address resolution based on the routing number returned from the AS 32 a-32 c and generates a Redirect “300 Multiple Choice” message. The NRE 33 populates Redirect 300 Multiple Choice message with the IP addresses of one or more destination BEs 26 a-26 d and sends the Redirect 300 Multiple Choice message to the CCE 24. In an embodiment, the NRE 33 can send the Redirect 300 Multiple Choice message to the CCE 24 with a predetermined hierarchical list of IP addresses corresponding to a predetermined hierarchical order of BEs 26 a-26 d for processing the call. In this arrangement, a highest level BE 26 a, 26 b, 26 c or 26 d defined on the list can receive and process the call and if the highest level BE 26 a, 26 b, 26 c or 26 d is unable to process the call or has insufficient resources to do so, the call may be redirect by the CCE 24 to a next successive BE 26 a, 26 b, 26 c or 26 d defined on the hierarchical list.

The first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices can include a plurality of SIP-enabled devices, such as telephones, personal computers and IP-Private Branch Exchanges (“PBXs”). In addition, the first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices can include a plurality of SIP-enabled wireless devices, such as cellular telephones, pagers and personal digital assistants (“PDAs”).

The primary MS 30 a and the secondary MS 30 b of the exemplary embodiment, are both similarly constructed and arranged to provide a plurality of predetermined announcements to the communication devices 22 a, 22 b and to collect information from the communication devices 22 a, 22 b (e.g. caller-entered data). For example, if the caller is required to enter digits or a phrase for a Call Prompter service or SDN (Software Defined Network) service, the primary MS 30 a, for example, will play the announcement prompting the caller to enter the required information. The primary MS 30 a also collects the information entered by the caller. The primary MS 30 a plays the announcements to the caller based on the instructions and announcement ID provided in the second INVITE message. In one embodiment, the announcements can include “Service Terminating” announcements or announcements for the caller to enter an authorization code, account code, or “call-prompter” digits.

In an exemplary embodiment, the primary MS 30 a and the secondary MS 30 b are each respectively defined as VoiceXML based MSs 30 a and 30 b. The primary MS 30 a and the secondary MS 30 b provide various announcements and collect information from callers operating from communication devices 22 a or 22 b when features requiring caller interaction are required to complete a call. For example, if the caller must enter digits or a phrase for a Call Prompter service or SDN service, which can be provided by the multi-media services provider system 10 a, the primary MS 30 or the secondary MS 30 b will play the announcement prompting the caller to enter the required information. The primary MS 30 a or the secondary MS 30 b further collects the information entered by the caller, which is defined herein as “caller-entered data.”

The media services provider system 10 a uses the HTTP protocol between the primary MS 30 a or the secondary MS 30 b and any one of the plurality of as 32 a-32 c for communicating the caller-entered data. The HTTP protocol is suited for the transfer of data, and even customer logic in the form of VoiceXML scripts; this provides the flexibility to offer advanced features in unique ways. In addition, HTTP provides a simpler interface than SIP because the SIP protocol takes many message exchanges before establishing a session, and therefore, HTTP places less demand on real-time resources at the primary MS 30 a or secondary MS 30 b and the plurality of as 32 a-32 c.

Referring now to FIG. 3, which shows an exemplary call flow diagram for executing the method 100 on the communication network 10 of FIG. 2 to provide multi-media services between the first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices, in accordance with the present invention. The call flow described in the exemplary call flow diagram provides a generic call flow in the communication network 10, where generally one of the communication devices 22 a, for example, initiates a call by sending a first INVITE message to the CCE 24, via the first PBX and BE 26 d. The CCE 24 generates a second INVITE message and populates appropriate parameters in a message body portion of the second INVITE message with the provisioned customer data such as the Charge Number, LATA, Charge Party Station Type (a.k.a. OLI) and Carrier among other things and also other information that were signaled in from the originating or first communication device 22 a. Thereafter, the CCE 24 sends the second INVITE message to the SB 36.

The SB 36 executes predetermined match functionality (e.g., match based on ANI, or DN) to identify the service match for call processing. The SB 36 also sends a SIP Re-direct 300 Multiple Choice message to the CCE 24, which includes the IP address and Port number combination of the elected AS 32 a-32 c for processing the call request, such as the first AS 32 a (e.g., SDN-AS 32 a). Accordingly, the CCE 24 sends a third INVITE message, which includes the call request, to the first AS 32 a for feature processing of the call request. The first AS 32 a can execute the customer logic and can determine whether the call request requires “Account Code and Authorization Code” to further process the call request.

If the first AS 32 a determines that the call request requires Account Code and Authorization Code, the AS 32 a returns a URL for VoiceXML scripts (that contains the primary MS 30 a (for example) resources, such as announcements) to the CCE 24 instructing the CCE 24 to generate and send a fourth INVITE message to the VoiceXML based MS 30 a (primary) or to the MS 30 b (secondary) with instructions to play announcement and collect digits or to play a terminating announcement and disconnect the call.

The CCE 24 using the Third Party Call Control mechanism connects the primary MS 30 a, for example, and the caller operating at the first communication device (via the fourth BE 26 d) for permitting the primary MS 30 a to play announcements and collect digits. The primary MS 30 a fetches VoiceXML script and audio files, via an HTTP operation with the first AS 32 a, and plays the announcement to the first communication device 22 a. Upon collecting the caller-entered data, the primary MS 30 a sends the collected caller-entered data along with the transaction ID, which the primary MS 30 a received in the fourth INVITE message, to the first AS 32 a using an HTTP Form Post message.

The receipt of the HTTP Form Post message, with a transaction ID, triggers the first AS 32 a to access the corresponding customer account and bypass the initial steps of the account logic and jump to the appropriate data validation logic. Upon validating caller-entered data, the first AS 32 a returns a new routing number along with other data in a fifth INVITE message, which is sent to the CCE 24. The CCE 24 passes the information it received from the first AS 32 a to the NRE 36 in a sixth INVITE message for address resolution, along with a new routing number of the called party. The CCE 24 sends a BYE message to the primary MS 30 a to disconnect the call leg previously formed between the CCE 24 and the primary MS 30 a. The NRE performs the address resolution and sends the routing information back to the CCE 24 with instructions to route the call to the called party, which for example can be located at the second communication device 22 b. The CCE 24 sends a seventh INVITE message to the egress BE 26 b with NULL SDP, and upon receipt of the 183 progress message with SDP, the CCE 24 sends a re-INVITE to the fourth BE 26 d (e.g. ingress BE 26 d) with the called Party's SDP to form a multi-media path between the caller at the first communication device and the called party at the second communication device 22 b.

In an exemplary embodiment, the method commences by the calling party initiating a call at the first communication device 22 a by dialing the number for the destination address (i.e., first communication device initiates a first INVITE message with a Called Party Number and other information). The first INVITE message arrives at the fourth BE 26 d (e.g. ingress BE 26 d), for example. The user-agent parameter of the first INVITE message contains “user=phone” where the phone number is an E.164 phone number. For example, the E.164 phone number can be defined as: INVITE sip:+732.420.4699@att.com; user=phone SIP/2.0. The user-agent parameter set to “user=phone” distinguishes that the Request-URI address is a telephone number (called party number) rather than a user name. The ingress BE 26 d inserts a Record-Route header into the first INVITE message to ensure that all subsequent messages communicated by either the calling party at the first communication device 22 a or the called party at the second communication device 22 b are sent back and forth between each other, via the ingress BE 26 d. The ingress BE 26 d further forwards the first INVITE message to the CCE 24.

At step 110, the CCE receives the first INVITE message originating from the first communication device and requesting multi-media services. Upon receipt of the first INVITE message, the CCE 24 puts the “calling party leg on hold” and sends a 100 Trying message to the ingress BE 26 d.

At step 120, the CCE 24 generates a second INVITE message, which the CCE 24 populates with provisioned customer data, such as the Charge Number, LATA (Local Access Transport Area), Charge Party Station Type (a.k.a. OLI), Carrier information and other various information provided by the caller operating at the first communication device 22 a. The CCE 24 forwards the second INVITE message to the SB 36 and waits for a 300 Multiple Choice Redirect message, which is provided to the CCE 24 from the SB 36 in response to the second INVITE message. The 300 Multiple Choice Redirect message can indicate that AS 32 a-32 c processing is or is not required to process the call request. Further, the SB 36 determines whether AS 32 a-32 c processing is required or is not required to process the call request based on parameters contained in a body portion of the second INVITE message. In an embodiment, the second INVITE message can include the following information:

INVITE sip: 732.420.8080@as-sdn-nj.att.com;user=phone SIP/2.0 Via SIP/2.0/UDP cce-nj.att.com;com:5060 Via: SIP/2.0/UDP be-mt-nj.att.com:5060 Via: SIP/2.0/UDP mypc.att.com:5060 Max-Forwards: 50 From: <sip:732.420.7070@att.com> To: <sip: 732.420.8080@att.com> Call-ID: c3904563-3119a-2995c 2e322238@mypc.att.com CSeq: 100 INVITE Route-Record: <be-mt-nj.att.com> Contact: sip:732.420.7070@mypc.att.com:5060 Content-Type: application/vnd.att-advnced-services; boundary=”- - att- advanced-services- -″ Content-Disposition: session Content-Length: nnn MIME-Version: 1.0 - - att-advanced-services cn=7323781000;3;1 /* cn;cn-non;cn-np cpst=32 beid=be ca=7324208080;3;1 /* ca;ca-non;ca-np cic=288;1;0 /* cic;cs;noc l=222 - - att-advanced-services - -

At step 130, the SB 36 receives the second INVITE message from the CCE 24 and processes the second INVITE message by executing an SB-function, which responds to information such as a charge number, dialed number, and Carrier Selection to determine whether an application associated with any one of the AS 32 a-32 c needs to be accessed to further process the call. The SB-function includes identifying the specific AS 32 a, 32 b and/or 32 c (e.g., 8YY-AS or SDN-AS), IP address and Port number combination (for both primary and secondary as 32 a-32 c) if the call request requires feature processing. If based on the information received in the second INVITE message, the SB 36 decides that the call request requires an AS 32 a, 32 b or 32 c for feature processing, the SB 36 generates a first 300 Multiple Choice Redirect message (hereinafter “first Redirect message”). The SB 36 populates the contact headers of the first Redirect message with the IP address/port number combination of the application and associated primary and secondary as 32 a, 32 b and/or 32 c. Thereafter, the SB 36 sends the first Redirect message to the CCE 24.

At step 140, based on the received IP address of the primary AS, such as AS 32 a, the CCE generates a third INVITE message that includes predetermined information, such as the Charge Number, LATA, and Carrier among other things, and sends the third INVITE message to the first AS 32 a (e.g. primary AS 32 a). At step 150, the first AS 32 a receives and processes the third INVITE message by accessing the ANI translation table that maps the origination address to a customer account ID. Using the customer account ID from the ANI translation table, the first AS 32 a accesses the customer's account to apply appropriate screening and feature processing for the call. Furthermore, the first AS 32 a can determine that the call request requires additional information from the user before proceeding further to process the call.

In this instance, the first AS 32 a returns a second 300 Multiple Choice Re-direct message (herein after “second Redirect message”) back to the CCE 24, which includes Contact header(s) having IP addresses of the primary MS 30 a and the secondary MS 30 b. The second Re-direct message can further include URL address for VoiceXML scripts, which contains the media resources such as announcements. In addition, the second Re-direct message can include a transaction ID to the CCE 24 instructing the CCE 24 to initiates a fourth INVITE message to the VoiceXML based MS 32 a (e.g. primary) to play announcement and collect digits or play terminating announcement and disconnect the call. In an exemplary embodiment, the second Re-direct message can include the following information:

SIP/2.0 300 Multiple Choice Via: SIP/2.0/UDP att.com:5060 From: sip:7324204699@att.com To: <sip:7324201000@att.com> Call-ID: c3904563-3119a-2995c 2e322238@att.com CSeq: 100 INVITE Content-Type: application/vnd.att-advnced-intelligent-services; boundary=“-- att-advanced- services --” Content-Length: nnn Contact: < http://annsvr.att.com/leaf/sdnapp.vxml@mediaserver1.att.com Contact: < http://annsvr.att.com/leaf/sdnapp.vxml@mediaserver2.att.com -- att-advanced- services TID = ax78s4563d -- att-advanced- services --

At step 160, upon receipt of the second Re-direct message from the first AS 32 a, the CCE 24 initiates the fourth INVITE message to the primary MS 30 a, which includes the URL address for the VoiceXML scripts and the caller's SDP information that was initially received at the CCE 24 in the first INVITE message. This is accomplished by CCE 24 generating a fourth request message with Content-Type header having a multipart/mixed media type. The fourth request message further includes a first body portion having session description protocol information and a second body portion having service related parameters to establish an interactive session with a caller operating at the first communication device 22 a, for example. In an exemplary embodiment, the fourth INVITE message can include the following information:

INVITE sip:http://annsvr1.att.com/leaf/sdnapp.vxml@medaiserver1.att.com SIP/2.0 Via: SIP/2.0/UDP att.com:5060 From: sip:7324204699@att.com To: <sip:7324201000@att.com> Call-ID: c3904563-3119a-2995c 2e322238@att.com CSeq: 100 INVITE Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary=”att-advanced-services” - - att-advanced- services Content-Type: application/sdp v=0 o=hsamarasinghe 2890844526 2890842807 IN IP4 126.16.64.4 s=IP to PSTN test call c=IN IP4 ngbe1.att.com t= 2873397496 2873404696 m=audio 4563 RTP/AVP 0  a=rtpmap:0 PCMU/8000 - - att-advanced- services Content-Type: application/vnd.att-advanced-intelligent-services TID = ax78s4563d - - att-advanced- services - -

At step 170, the CCE 24 connects the primary MS 30 a and the caller operating at the first communication device 22 a using the Third Party Call Control capability, as described above. The primary MS 30 a fetches VoiceXML scripts and audio files using the URL it received, via an HTTP Get operation and plays the announcement. At step 180, upon collecting the caller-entered data from the caller, the primary MS 30 a sends the collected caller-entered data along with a transaction ID to the first AS 32 a, for example, via an HTTP Form Post message. The first AS 32 a receives the HTTP Form Post message with the transaction ID. The transaction ID triggers the first AS 32 a to access the corresponding customer account and bypass the initial steps of the account logic and jump to the appropriate data validation logic.

At step 190, if the first AS 32 a determines that the caller-entered data is invalid, at step 200, the primary MS 30 a plays a termination announcement to the caller at the first communication device and the method 100 ends at step 210. On the other hand, if the first AS 32 a determines that the caller-entered data is valid, which indicates that the call request can proceed, at step 220, the first AS 32 a generates and sends a fifth INVITE message to the CCE 24. The fifth INVITE message includes the new routing number and the recording information, which instructs the CCE 24 to get the address resolved by the NRE 33. Thereafter CCE 24 sends a BYE message to the MS 30 a to disconnect the call leg formed between the CCE 24 and the primary MS 30 a. The CCE 24 then sends a BYE message to the first AS 32 a to disconnect the call leg formed between the first AS 32 a and the CCE 24.

At step 230, upon receipt of the fifth INVITE message from the first AS 32 a, the CCE 24 initiates a sixth INVITE message to the NRE 33 by populating appropriate parameters defined in the sixth INVITE message with the following predetermined routing information received in the fifth INVITE message: the Charge Number, LATA, Charge Party Station Type (a.k.a. OLI) and Carrier Identification Code (CIC) among other things, and waits for a third 300 Multiple Choice Redirect message (hereinafter “third Redirect message”) from the NRE 33.

At step 240, upon receipt of the sixth INVITE message from the CCE 24, the NRE 33 performs the address resolution functions and populates the appropriate parameters defined in the third Redirect message. Thereafter, the NRE 33 sends the third Redirect message to CCE 24 with the IP addresses of multiple BE 26 a-26 d in a hierarchical list, so that in the event that the first BE 26 a does not have enough resources to process the call request, the CCE 24 can attempt to send the call request to the next successive BE 26 b-26 d defined on the hierarchical list.

At step 250, upon receiving the third Redirect message from the NRE 33, the CCE 24 creates a Call Detail Record for the call by using the billing instructions returned from the first AS 32 a. Further, the CCE 24 generates a seventh INVITE message, which is sent to the egress BE 26 b, for example, by mapping all relevant parameters defined in the fifth INVITE message. The CCE 24 also inserts a Record-Route header into the seventh INVITE message to ensure that all subsequent messages by either party (e.g. calling party operating from the first communication device 22 a and the called party operating from the second communication device 22 b) are sent via the CCE 24. After generating the seventh INVITE message at the CCE 24, as described above, the CCE 24 sends the seventh INVITE message with NULL SDP to the second BE 26 b (e.g. egress BE 26 b).

At step 260, upon receipt of the seventh INVITE message at the egress BE 26 b, the egress BE 26 b inserts another Record-Route header into the seventh INVITE message to ensure that all subsequent messages by either party operating from the first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices are sent via the egress BE 26 b. Furthermore, the egress BE 26 b forwards the seventh INVITE message to the called party operating at the second 22 b communication device, via an optional SIP enabled IP PBX 34 b.

At step 270, in response to receipt of the seventh INVITE message, the second communication device 22 b commences a predetermined protocol for forming a multi-media path between the first and second communication devices. In an embodiment, the predetermined protocol includes the called party at the second communication device 22 b returning a 183 Session Progress message to the egress BE 26 b with the SDP information of the second communication device 22 b. Upon receipt of the 183 Session Progress message, the egress BE 26 b forwards the 183 Session Progress message to the CCE 24 with the SDP information. Upon receiving the 183 Session Progress message, the CCE 24 sends a re-INVITE message to the caller operating at the first communication device 22 a, via the ingress BE 26 d. The re-INVITE message includes the called party's SDP information to reinitialize a media path between the caller operating at the first communication device 22 a and the called party operating at the second communication device 22 b by using the Third Party Call Control feature, as described above.

The calling party at the first communication device 22 a sends a 200 OK message to the CCE 24, via the egress BE 26 d. Upon receiving the PRACK message, the called party at the second communication device 22 b returns a 200 OK message to the calling party at the first communication device 22 a, via the egress BE 26 b, CCE 24, and the ingress BE 26 d. At this point, the two end-devices or first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices communicate with each other for resource reservation using RSVP-TE.

After resource reservation, the calling party at the first communication device 22 a sends an UPDATE message to the called party at the second communication device 22 a confirming success. In response to receipt of the 200 OK for the first INVITE message, the calling party at the first communication device 22 a sends an ACK message to the called party at the second communication device 22 b, via the CCE 24. At this instant, a multi-media path is formed between the calling party at the first communication device and the called party at the second communication device.

At step 280, if the calling party at the first communication device 22 a decides to end the conversation or disconnect the multi-media path, for example, the first communication device 22 a sends a BYE message to the ingress BE 26 d. Upon receipt of the BYE message, the ingress BE 26 d creates a CDR and forwards the BYE message to the CCE 24. The CCE 24 creates a CDR upon receipt of the BYE message from the ingress BE 26 d, and forwards the BYE message to the egress BE 26 b. Upon receipt of the BYE message from the CCE 24, the egress BE 26 b creates a CDR and forwards the BYE message to the called party at the second communication device. At step 290, the multi-media path previously formed between the first 22 a and second 22 b communication devices is disconnected and the method 100 ends at step 300.

While various features of the present invention are described herein in conjunction with exemplary embodiments having various components using a number of protocols, it should be understood that other suitable components and protocols can be used without departing from the present invention.

Having thus described at least one illustrative embodiment of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements are intended to be within the scope and spirit of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only and is not intended as limiting. The invention's limit is defined only in the following claims and the equivalents thereto. All references and publications cited herein are expressly incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 

1. A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a provider system to form a multi-media communication path between a first communication device and a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices, comprising: receiving at least a first request message for a multi-media service at a call control element located on the provider system from the first communication device; processing the first request message at the call control element to generate a second request message for the multi-media service including predetermined attributes of the first request message; forwarding the second request message to a service broker; receiving and processing a first redirect message from the service broker, wherein the first redirect message includes predetermined attributes of the second request message at the call control element for generating a third request message including predetermined attributes of the first redirect message; forwarding the third request message to an application server, wherein the application server is for generating a second redirect message, wherein the second redirect message includes a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server located on the provider system and a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server located on the provider system; receiving and processing the second redirect message at the call control element to generate a fourth request message including a Content-Type header having a multipart/mixed media type, wherein the fourth request message further includes a first message body portion including session description protocol associated with the first request message and a second message body portion including service related parameters to establish an interactive session with a predetermined caller; forwarding the fourth request message to the primary media server if it is determined that the primary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message; and processing the fourth request message at the primary media server to form an interactive communication path between the primary media server and the first communication device.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving user-entered data at the primary media server; communicating the user-entered data to at least one application server located on the provider system; and determining whether the user-enter data is valid at the at least one application server, wherein if the user-entered data is determined as valid, the method further includes generating a fifth request message at the at least one application server including address resolution instructions and wherein if the user-entered data is determined as invalid, the method further includes playing a termination announcement to the first communication device.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving and processing the fifth request message at the call control element for generating a sixth request message that includes predetermined routing information.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising: forwarding the sixth request message to a network routing element for generating a third redirect message.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving and processing the third redirect message at the call control element for generating a seventh request message.
 6. The method of claim 5, further comprising: forwarding the seventh request message to the second communication device, wherein the second communication device initiates a predetermined protocol for forming a multi-media communication path between the first communication device and the second communication device.
 7. A method of processing multi-media service requests received at a provider system to form a multi-media communication path between a first communication device and a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices, comprising: receiving at least a first request message for a multi-media service at a call control element located on the provider system from the first communication device; processing the first request message at the call control element to generate a second request message for the multi-media service including predetermined attributes of the first request message; forwarding the second request message to a service broker; receiving and processing a first redirect message from the service broker, wherein the first redirect message includes predetermined attributes of the second request message at the call control element for generating a third request message including predetermined attributes of the first redirect message; forwarding the third request message to an application server, wherein the application server is for generating a second redirect message, wherein the second redirect message includes a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server located on the provider system and a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server located on the provider system; receiving and processing the second redirect message at the call control element to generate a fourth request message including a Content-Type header having a multipart/mixed media type, wherein the fourth request message further includes a first message body portion including session description protocol associated with the first request message and a second message body portion including service related parameters to establish an interactive session with a predetermined caller; and querying the secondary media server for determining whether the secondary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message if it is determined that the primary media server includes insufficient resources for processing the fourth request message.
 8. The method of claim 7, further comprising: forwarding the fourth request message to the secondary media server; and processing the fourth request message at the secondary media server to form an interactive communication path between the secondary media server and the first communication device.
 9. A system for processing multi-media service requests received at a provider system to form a multi-media communication path between a first communication device and a second communication device of a plurality of communication devices, comprising: a call control element located on the provider system for receiving a first request message for a multi-media service from the first communication device, wherein the call control element processes the first request message at the call control element to generate a second request message for the multi-media service including predetermined attributes of the first request message, wherein the call control element forwards the second request message to a service broker, wherein the call control element receives and processes a first redirect message from the service broker, wherein the first redirect message includes predetermined attributes of the second request message at the call control element for generating a third request message including predetermined attributes of the first redirect message, wherein the call control element forwards the third request message to an application server, wherein the application server is for generating a second redirect message, wherein the second redirect message includes a first contact header having address-related information associated with a primary media server located on the provider system and a second contact header having address-related information associated with a secondary media server located on the provider system, wherein the call control element receives and processes the second redirect message at the call control element to generate a fourth request message including a Content-Type header having a multipart/mixed media type, wherein the fourth request message further includes a first message body portion including session description protocol associated with the first request message and a second message body portion including service related parameters to establish an interactive session with a predetermined caller, wherein the call control element forwards the fourth request message to the primary media server if it is determined that the primary media server includes resources for processing the fourth request message and processes the fourth request message at the primary media server to form an interactive communication path between the primary media server and the first communication device.
 10. The system of claim 9, further comprising: receiving user-entered data at the primary media server; communicating the user-entered data to at least one application server located on the provider system; and determining whether the user-enter data is valid at the at least one application server, wherein if the user-entered data is determined as valid, the method further includes generating a fifth request message at the at least one application server including address resolution instructions and wherein if the user-entered data is determined as invalid, the method further includes playing a termination announcement to the first communication device.
 11. The system of claim 10, further comprising: receiving and processing the fifth request message at the call control element for generating a sixth request message that includes predetermined routing information.
 12. The system of claim 11, further comprising: forwarding the sixth request message to a network routing element for generating a third redirect message. 